Method and apparatus for cold-rolling annular members



p 30, 1969 w. RIOLLINS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLD-ROLLING AN N ULAR MEMBERS Filed March 10. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JAMES W. ROLLINS I M A $3545 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m MM w 0 R w S I! m ww J J. W. ROLLINS m UHM.

Sept. 30, 1969 Filed Marqh 10, 1967 mn unmn Sept; 30, 1969 J. w. ROLLINS METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR COLD-ROLLING ANNULAR MEMBERS Filed March 10, 1967 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 0 JAMES LU-ROLLINS 28 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,469,427 METHOD AND'APPARATUS FOR COLD-ROLLING ANNULAR MEMBERS James W. Rollins, Winsted, COIllL, assignor to The Torrington Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Maine Filed Mar. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 622,312

Int. Cl. B21d 15/00 U.S. CI. 72-91 18 Claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for forming bearing races from annular blanks which includes a core or mandrel adapted to externally receive an annular blank, means for supporting the mandrel in a predetermined position, an annular sizing ring exteriorly surrounding an annular blank supported upon the mandrel, and means for forcefully urging the core and sizing ring relatively toward each other during relative rotation therebetween whereby the annular blank is circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the type heretofore described including means for flowing material at axial end portions of the blank in an axial direction whereby radially inwardly directed peripheral flanges are formed having a radial thickness greater than the thickness of the annular blank.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the type immediately heretofore set forth wherein the last-mentioned means include a pair of forming rolls mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the mandrel and the sizing ring.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the type heretofore described wherein means are provided for maintaining the mandrel and the sizing ring in a desired position relative to each other during a cold-forming operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of forming annular bearing races or similar annular members from an annular blank by confining the annular blank between a mandrel and an annular sizing ring, and effecting relative radial and rotational movement between the mandrel and the sizing ring whereby the blank is circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel apparatus and methods of the type heretofore set forth wherein the inner surface of the sizing ring and/or outer peripheral surface of the mandrel are contoured to impart a desired and predetermined cross-sectional configuration to the finally finished cold-formed annular member.

With the above and otherobjects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ice

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts broken away for clarity, and illustrated a plurality of rolls supporting a mandrel and an annular blank positioned between the mandrel and a sizing ring prior to a cold-forming operation.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIGURE 1, and illustrates the position of the support rolls prior to being reciprocated in an upward converging direction toward and into supporting contact with the mandrel.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front view of the apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 2, and illustrates the relative position of the mandrel, the sizing ring, the blank, a pair of flange forming rolls and an upper pressure roll just prior to the cold-forming of the blank.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, and illustrates a circumferential central portion of the blank coldformed into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the apparatus similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, and illustrates the flange rolls advancing toward each other to transform axial end portions of the blank into radially inwardly directed peripheral flanges.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the apparatus similar to FIGURE 3 through 5, and illustrates the cross-sectional configuration of the finally formed annular member.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another apparatus of the invention, and illustrates a mandrel having a peripheral working surface provided with a pair of circumferential flanges which form circumferential grooves in an inner surface of a blank formed between the mandrel and an associated sizing ring.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another apparatus similar to the apparatus of FIGURE 7, and illustrates a core associated with a pair of sizing rings and a pressure roll having a central forming flange for creating a circumferential groove in an exterior surface of an annular blank.

FIGURE 9 is a highly schematic fragmentary front view of another apparatus of this invention, and illustrates a contoured mandrel for forming an annular member having a plurality of circumferential grooves in an inner surface thereof.

FIGURE 10 is a highly schematic front elevational view of another apparatus, and illustrates a mandrel having a gradually curved convex working surface which forms a gradually curved concave inner surface in an associated blank.

A novel apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 15. The apparatus is particularly adapted for cold-forming or cold-working an annular blank B of metallic material into an annular bearing race R (FIG- URE 6) or similar annular members.

The apparatus 15 includes a pair of spindles 16, 17 driven in the same direction by conventional driving means (not shown) and reciprocated by conventional reciprocating means (also not shown) in the direction of the headed arrows in FIGURE 2. The spindle 16 has fixed thereto a pair of spaced supporting rolls 18, 20 (FIGURE 1) while the spindle 17 similarly has fixed thereto a pair of spaced supporting rolls 21, 22 (FIG- URES 2 and 3). The peripheries (unnumbered) of the rolls 18, 20, 21 and 22 are adapted to firmly support a core or mandrel 23 when the supporting rolls are moved to the phantom outline position shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

The mandrel 23 includes a pair of cylindrical end portions 24, 25 and a central working portion 26 having axially oppositely directed shoulders 27, 28. The end portions 24, 25 include respective end faces 30, 31, and an axial extension 32 projects to the left beyond the end face 30 of the mandrel 23 as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. A rod 33 is threadably or otherwise conventionally secured to the extension 32. The rod 33 is reciprocated in a horizontal plane (left-to-right in FIG- URE 1) by conventional means (not shown). In the position of the mandrel 23 shown in FIGURE 1 the end face 31 contacts an end face (unnumbered) of a stop 39 which limits the left-to-right movement of the mandrel 23 and thus properly locates the mandrel 23 incident to a cold-working operation as will become apparent more fully hereafter.

When the rod 33 is reciprocated to the left in FIGURE 1 a suflicient space is provided between the end face 31 of the mandrel 23 and the end face (unnumbered) of the stop mechanism 39 to permit the blank B to be manually or automatically telescoped upon the annular portion 26 of the core 23.

The sizing ring 35 is preferably constructed from hardened metallic material and includes an inner circumferential surface 36 which is generally larger in circumference and diameter than the circumference and diameter of the blank B, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. The sizing ring 35 is, however, not necessarily larger than the blank as it is possible to press a blank into the ring with an interference fit and still perform the operations for which the apparatus is intended. The sizing ring 35 also includes a pair of axially oppositely directed annular faces 37, 38. In the working embodiment of the apparatus 15 means (not shown) are provided for automatically locating the sizing ring 35 in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and temporarily sup porting the ring in this position. A conventionally vertically reciprocal member 40 (FIGURE 2) is shown merely by way of example as supporting the sizing ring 35 prior to the cold-working operation at which time the ring is supported by the mandrel 23, as will become more apparent hereafter.

A pair of pillow blocks 41, 42 are supported by conventional means (not shown) about and in spaced relationship to the mandrel 23. The pillow blocks 41, 42 are reciprocated in a vertical plane by conventional means (not shown) and a shaft 43 is mounted for rotation in suitable journals 44, 45 by conventional anti-friction bearing assemblies 46, 47, respectively. A working roll 48 is fixed to the shaft 43 and includes a central portion 50 and a pair of flanges 51, 52 having respective inner annular faces 53, 54 and outer faces 55, 56. The annular faces 53, 54 of the roll 48 cooperate with the faces 37, 38, respectively, of the sizing ring 35 to accurately locate and confine the latter during the cold-forming operation, as will be more apparent hereafter.

The pillow blocks 41, 42 include identical dove-tail contoured lower portions 60, 61 which guidably confineably receive housings 62, 63, respectively. The housings 62, 63 carry respective side forming rolls or flange forming rolls 64, 65 having respective peripheral working surfaces 66, 67. The rolls 64, 65 are secured to the housings 62, 63 by bearing assemblies and fasteners 71. The rolls 64, 65 also include circumferential abutment surfaces 72, 73, respectively, which limit the movement of the rolls 64, 65 toward each other, as will be more apparent hereafter. The movement of the rolls 64, 65 toward and away from each other is effected by conventional reciprocating means (not shown).

Assuming the various components of the apparatus 15 are in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 1 a typical cold-forming operation is initiated by the movement of the shafts 16, 17 upwardly in the direction of the headed arrows of FIGURE 2 whereupon the peripheral surfaces (unnumbered) of the supporting rolls 18, 20, 21 and 22 4 contact the end portions 24, 25 of the mandrel 23 and support it.

When the mandrel 23 reaches the position shown in FIGURE 3 or any time prior thereto, the shafts 16, 17 begin rotating and the roller 48 moves downwardly causing the metal of the blank B between the inner surface 36 of the sizing ring 35 and the central portion 26 of the mandrel 23 to begin to circumferentially elongate until the central portion (unnumbered) of the blank conformingly contacts the entire interior surface 36 of the ring 35, as shown in FIGURE 4. During this circumferential coldflow of the metal of the blank B the residual hoop stresses cause the axial end portions (unnumbered) of the blank B to bend inward in the manner shown in FIGURE 4.

The conventional means are then actuated to reciprocate the housing 62, 63 toward each other whereupon the working surfaces 66, 67 of the flange forming rolls 64, 65 begin cold-flowing the metal of the blank end flanges axially causing the same to thicken beyond the predetermined thickness of the blank B, as best illustrated in FIGURE 6. This movement of the rolls 64, 65 terminates upon the abutment of the abutment surfaces 72, 73 against the annular faces 55, 56 of the roll 48, at which time flanges F P of the race R are completed.

The side rolls 64, 65 are then retracted, the forming roll 48 is drawn upwardly, the shafts 16 and 17 move in a downward divergent direction and the mandrel 23 resumes the position shown in FIGURE 1. The support 40 is raised to center the workpiece about the mandrel 23 so that the mandrel 23 can be withdrawn and the finished part is manually or automatically removed from the sizing ring 35 and another blank is assembled therein for processing in the manner heretofore described.

Another apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 75. The apparatus 75 is identical to the apparatus 15 except for the omission of the rolls 64, 65 and the particular cooperative construction of a mandrel or core 76 and a working roll 77.

In this case the mandrel 76 includes opposite end portions 78, 80 and a central portion 81. The central portion 81 includes a pair of outwardly opening circumferential grooves 82, 83 adjacent respective outwardly directed circumferential flanges 84, 85. A cylindrical portion 86 is disposed between the flanges 84, 85.

The roll 77 includes a pair of flanges 87, 88 having opposed annular rounded faces 90, 91 between which is a cylindrical portion 92.

A sizing ring 93 corresponding in structure and function to the sizing ring 35 is confined between opposed axial faces (unnumbered) of the flanges 87, 88.

Upon the operation of the apparatus 75 in the manner heretofore described relative to the apparatus 15 a blank (not shown) is cold-formed into an annular member or race R which includes an inner surface S having inwardly opening interior grooves G, G and radially inwardly directed flanges F F having rounded shoulders (unnumbered).

Another apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in FIGURE 8 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 100. The apparatus corresponds identically to the apparatus 75 except for the particular construction of a working or forming roll 101 and a pair of sizing rings 102, 103.

The working roll 101 includes a central flange 104 positioned substantially midway between end flanges 105, 106. Cylindrical surfaces 107, 108 are disposed between the flanges 104, 105 and 104, 106 respectively.

During a cold-forming operation of the apparatus 100 the sizing rings 102, 103 are maintained in spaced relationship by means of the flange 104, as is readily apparent in FIGURE 8. As the blank (not shown) is progressively cold-worked to form a race R the peripheral surface (unnumbered) of the flange 104 progressively cold-works a central circumferential portion of the blank and forms an outwardly opening circumferential groove G In this case the groove G forms a lubricantgroove of the race member R and it is to be understood that a plurality of such grooves of any desired configuration can be similarly formed in the outer surface of the race member by varying the number of flanges of the roll 101 and the coopreative sizing rings.

Referring to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, an apparatus 110 is illustrated which corresponds substantially identically to the apparatus 75 of FIGURE 7 except for the particular configuration of a core or mandrel 111. The mandrel 111 includes opposite end portions 112, 113 and a central portion 114. The central portion 114 includes a pair of radially outwardly directed circumferential flanges 115, 116 and a centermost radially outwardly directed relatively wider and convexly contoured flange 117. Narrow cylindrical surfaces 118, 120 are disposed between the flanges 114, 115 and 114, 116, respectively. A resultant race member R cold-formed during the operation of the apparatus 110 is provided with an inner surface (unnum bered) which is a mirror image of the central portion 114 of the mandrel 111.

Referring to FIGURE of the drawings, another apparatus 125 corresponding to the apparatus 110 includes a modified core or mandrel 126. The mandrel 126 includes opposite end portions 127, 128 and a smoothly convexly contoured central flange portion 130. Upon the operation of the apparatus 125 to form a race member R an inner surface S is formed to the mirror image of the central portion 130.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been fully described heretofore, variations in the several apparatuses will be apparent to those skilled in the art after having read this description. For example, while the surface 26 of the core 23 and the surface 36 of the sizing ring 35 have been illustrated as being perfect right-cylindrical surfaces, the configuration thereof may be varied depending upon the desired final contour of the blank B. The surfaces 26, 36 could be, for example, frusto-conical whereby a frusto-conical configuration would be imparted to the blank B. In such a case less circumferential elongation would take place at the minor diameter of the surfaces 26, 36 while maximum circumferential elongation would take place at the major diameter of these surfaces.

The inner diameters of the sizing rings 102, 103 of the apparatus 100 are shown to be identical, but in accordance with this invention it is also possible to vary these diameters in minor amounts to effect a radial offset 'between adjacent axial portions of the finished annular member. In addition, in lieu of the circumferential flange 104 the sizing rings 102, 103 could be constructed as a single ring having a radially inwardly directed circumferential bead which would form a groove comparable to the groove G However, the removal of the finally finished blank from the single sizing ring would be difficult if the groove G were of an appreciable depth and it is therefore preferable to employ the sizing rings 102, 103 and the flange 104 wherebythe race R can be removed readily from the rings 102, 103 by, for example, a pressing operation or by heating and expanding the rings 102, 103 and/or cooling and contracting the race R While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, and means for forming at least a single circumferential outwardly opening groove in an outer surface of the annular blank.

2. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, and means for cold-flowing the material at an axial end portion of the blank in an axial direction toward the opposite axial end portion thereby providing the blank with a circumferential flange.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a work roll, and said forming means is a circumferential flange of said work roll.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned means are a pair of rolls having axes disposed generally normal to the axis of said core. 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 including anbther sizing ring, and said circumferential flange is disposed between said sizing rings thereby maintaining the sizing rings in axial spaced relationship during a coldforming operation.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means for moving said rolls toward and away from each other, a work roll opposing said sizing ring, and cooperative means between the pair of rolls and the work roll for limiting the movement of said pair of rolls toward each other.

7. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, said last-mentioned means including a work roll, and said work roll and sizing ring include cooperative means for maintaining said sizing ring accurately positioned during a cold-forming operation.

8. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, another sizing ring, and means maintaining said sizing rings in axially spaced relationship.

9. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongted into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, another sizing ring, said another sizing ring having an interior surface, and the diameters of said interior surfaces being of a different size whereby an annular member cold-formed therebetween includes radially offset circumferential portions.

10. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, means cooperative with said core and bein relatively rotatable therewith for circumferentially elongated the annular blank, and means between said cooperative means and said core for cold-flowing the material at axial ends of the blank in axial opposite directions toward each other thereby providing the formed annular member with a pair of circumferential flanges.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim wherein said means for cold-flowing the blank ends is a forming member disposed adjacent each of the blank ends, and means for relatively moving said forming members toward each other to form the circumferential flanges from the blank ends.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said core includes means defining a pair of circumferentially extending radially outwardly directed shoulders, and said forming members are each movable toward an associate one of said shoulders for forming said circumferential flanges therebetween.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said forming members are forming rolls.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said forming members are forming rolls, and said forming rolls have axes disposed generally transverse to the axis of said core.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for circumferentially elongating the annular blank includes a sizing ring surrounding said core.

16. Apparatus for cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank comprising a core adapted to telescopically receive thereabout an annular blank which is to be cold-worked, means for supporting the core, a sizing ring in external telescopic relationship relative to said core and the annular blank being adapted for sandwiched relationship between the core and the sizing ring, means for effecting rotational and forceful relative movement of the core and sizing ring toward each other whereby the blank is adapted to be circumferentially elongated into conforming relationship with an interior surface of the sizing ring, said last-mentioned means includes a work roller having a pair of radially outwardly directed circumferential flanges, and said sizing ring being at least partially disposed between said circumferential flanges whereby the latter function to accurately position the sizing ring during a cold-forming operation.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 including another sizing ring at least partially disposed between said circumferential flanges, and said work roller further includes means for maintaining said sizing rings in axially spaced relationship relative to each other.

18. A method of cold-forming an annular member from an annular blank of a predetermined circumference and inside and outside diameters comprising the steps of circumferentially elongating at least a central portion of the blank to increase said predetermined circumference at both said inside and outside diameters, disposing a forming member adjacent each of the blank ends, and moving the forming members in opposite directions toward each other to thereby apply oppositely directed forces against the axial ends of the blank from opposite sides thereof toward each other to cold-flow the material of the axial ends axially inward to form a pair of inwardly directed circumferential flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,685 9/1874 Lafferty 729l 745,555 12/1903 Aranyi 72-9l 2,822,853 2/1958 Weinandy 72l05 3,077,130 2/1963 Johnson et al. 72-106 3,230,606 1/1966 Saito et al. 29-1484 3,345,845 10/1967 Marcovitch et al. 72-91 3,382,693 5/1968 Rozhdestvensky et al. 72-87 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner LOWELL A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72l 10 

